Stabilizing  device foe use on aeroplanes



C. J. BERTHEL.

STABILIZING DEVICE FOR USE ON AEROPLANES. APPLICATION map SEPL29. |s|z.'

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0.1. BERTHEL. STABILIZING DEVICE FOR USE ON AEROPLANES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 29. 1917 1,309,452,. Patent-ed July 8, 1919.

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3W m ioz n STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLS J. BEBTHEL, F AKRON, OHIO.

SZ'IJABILIZING DEVICE FOR USE ON AEROPLANES.

. To all iwhom z't may concern:

Be it known'that I, CHARL's J. BERrHEL, a

I citizen of Germany, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of Ohio, have invented-certain new, and useful Improvements in Stabilizing Devices for Use on Aero' lanes, of which the following is a speci cation. 1

- This invention relates to aeronautics and it is the principle object of the invention to provide a stabilizing device for use on aeroplanes, whereby the equilibrium of the same will b maintained while in flight, thereby tending to render the aeroplane rigid and preventing'side slipping or tilting of the I machine about a horizontal axis or from the purpose of facilitating a full understanding of the present improvements.

n the drawings; Figure 1 is a side elevation of an aeroplane having my improved stabilizer arranged thereon;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of the Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the stabilizer when in its inoperative or telescoped position, and

, Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the aeroplane.

Sim1lar characters of reference will refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Having more particular reference to the drawings, 1 represents an aeroplane in its entirety to which my improved stabilizer is applied.

The stabilizer includes a body formed of a plurality of telescopic sections generally indicated by the numeral 2 the said sections being substantially oval in cross section, and having the upper and lower ends of the same provided with flanges or shoulders 3 and 4.

As will be readily understood, upon refer- Specification of Letters Patent.

equally important object of Patented July 8, 1919.

Application filed September 29, 1917. Serial No. 193,974.

ence to the F ig. 3, the shoulders 3 and 4 serve as means for imiting movement of the telescopic sections '2 when distended, the shoulders 3 upon the upper end of one of the said sections engaging with the shoulders l upon the lower end of the adjacent or receiving section. Rotatably mounted in suitable bearings 5 arranged in the lower end of the innermost telescopic section is a wheel 6, which, if desired, may be provided with a cushion tire or other suitable shook absorbing means.

he outermost telescopic section 2 is secured to the bottom of the body of the aeroplane, centrally thereof through the medium of a bracket 7, which bracket receives the same and is engaged therewith through the medium of bolts or other suitable fastening devices.

As means for collapsing the telescopic body, a cable 8 is provided and has one end thereof secured to the innermost section 2, while the other end of the same is engaged with a Windlass or other form of winding drum 9, which drum is rotated through a power transmitting gear 10 connected thereto. In this connection, however, I desire to have it understood, that I do not confine myself to--the use of any one form of means for raising or lowering the sectional telescopic body, that is, causing the various sections to be telescoped, but may employ any suitableform of mechanism, such as conditions or preference may dictate. It will of course be appreciated that the raising and lowering means whereby the body will be -telescoped, is arranged at a point convenient to the operator or pilot of the aeroplane, in order that it may be readily operated with-. out difiiculty.

The sections 2 from which the telescopic body is formed may be and preferably are formed of strong light material, such as aluminum or one of its alloys.

In operation, the telescopic body is distended when an aeroplane carrying the same is in flight, byoperating the raising and lowering means hereinbefore described, such operation being accomplished automatically. N hen landing, the body may be then telescoped by again operating the raising and lowering means, thereby so positioningthe said body as to prevent its interference with the functioning of the landing gear of the aeroplane. The wheel 6, will serve as means for engaging a surface, and causing the tele scoping of the various sections 2 in the event c axis.

that some difiiculty arises in the raising and lowering means, thereby preventing the pilot from operating the same. In this way, perfect landing of the aeroplane Will be permitted, irrespective of the condition of the raising and lowering means.

As will be readily understood by those skilled in the art, the stabilizer due to its position upon the body of the aeroplane and due to the fact that the same depends therefrom lowers the center of gravity of the machine, and as a consequence, stabilizes the same when in flight, preventing the turning turtl thereof, side slipping or the undue tilting of the aeroplane about a horizontal Further, the stabilizer due -to its exceedingly simple construction can be readily attached to practically any form of heavier than air-machine now used.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such ture hereto site sides tapered forwardly and the front and rear portions thereof tapered to edges whereby to permit the passing of the same through air with but minimum resistance, a Wheel mounted in bearings in the free end of the body, and means for effecting telescoping a,

of the sections of the body.

In testimony whereof, I aifix my signa- CHARLS J. BERTHEL. 

